Diagnosis method, power supply control device, electronic apparatus, battery pack and computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

A diagnosis method diagnoses an electronic apparatus that is operable with a battery pack having a memory which stores information. The diagnosis method reads information from the battery pack, and sets the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of a Japanese Patent Application No.2004-123381 filed Apr. 19, 2004, in the Japanese Patent Office, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to diagnosis methods, powersupply control devices, electronic apparatuses, battery packs andcomputer-readable storage media, and more particularly to a diagnosismethod for diagnosing an electronic apparatus such as a lap-top (orportable) personal computer, a power supply control device and anelectronic apparatus which employ such a diagnosis method, a batterypack that is used by such a diagnosis method, and a computer-readablestorage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to carry outa diagnosis by such a diagnosis method.

2. Description of the Related Art

A program called Basic Input Output System (BIOS) which carries out aboot process of personal computers is embedded with a simpleself-diagnosis function called Power On Self Test (POST). For example,the POST sends an 8-bit code corresponding to an initial setting or eachstage of an initial diagnosis to an address 80h (80 in hexadecimal, 128in decimal).

Extension slots are provided in desk-top personal computers, and when anextension card that displays data by decoding the address 80h isinserted into the extension slot, the extension card acts as anindicator that is used for the debugging. The indicator of the extensioncard is usable when a CPU and a BIOS-ROM that stores the BIOS areoperating within the personal computer. For example, when the personalcomputer is started in a state where a main memory such as a RAM hasfailed, information such as a message indicating a memory error isindicated on the indicator of the extension card. Hence, in a case wherea display to be made on a main display part of the personal computer isnot displayed even when the power supply of the personal computer isturned ON, for example, it is possible to investigate the location ofthe failure within the personal computer based on the information thatis indicated on the indicator of the extension card. A diagnosis whichincludes investigating the location of the failure within the personalcomputer is carried out when shipping the personal computer, andattending to the maintenance, checking or repair of the personalcomputer.

In a state where the main display part such as a CRT and/or an LCD ofthe personal computer is usable, it is unnecessary to use the indicatorof the extension card. However, the performance of the main display parthas dramatically improved in recent years, and highly complex processesare required even when only carrying out an initializing process.Furthermore, the main display part and a control circuit of the recentpersonal computer have become replaceable. For this reason, there isstill a need for the indicator of the extension card.

On the other hand, lap-top personal computers are normally not providedwith an extension slot as in the case of the desk-top personal computerdescribed above. Consequently, in a case where the location of thefailure within the lap-top personal computer cannot be investigatedunless an indicator for debugging use is connected thereto, it becomesnecessary to open a housing (or casing) of the lap-top personal computerand make the necessary connections. As a result, troublesome operations,such as removing screws, are required in order to carry out thediagnosis. Moreover, in the case of the lap-top personal computer havinga housing which is uneasily opened, the operations that are required tocarry out the diagnosis become even more complex and troublesome, andfurthermore, the housing may be damaged when opening the housing.

It is conceivable to provide an extension slot in lap-top personalcomputers, similarly to the desk-top personal computers. However, sincethere are demands to reduce the size of the lap-top personal computers,there is a limit to the space within the lap-top personal computer thatmay be used to provide the extension slot. In addition, the cost of thelap-top personal computers will increase if the extension slot having apredetermined number of terminals were to be provided in the lap-toppersonal computers. Therefore, it is not practical to provide theextension slot in the lap-top personal computers. Although lap-toppersonal computers provided with a simplified extension slot having asmall number of terminals have been proposed, it is still necessary tosecure a space to provide the simplified extension slot, and further,there is a limit to the diagnosis performance that may be achieved ifthe number of terminals of the simplified extension slot is limited.

Some portable electronic apparatuses such as the lap-top personalcomputers can use a secondary, battery such as a battery pack, as apower supply. For example, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.11-299116 proposes a charging process depending on the kind of secondarybattery used. For example, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2002-169629 proposes an identification of the type of secondary battery.In addition, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-223527proposes a judgement to determine whether or not the battery packconforms to the electronic apparatus.

However, in the prior art, the information stored in the memory withinthe battery pack is used to identify the type of the secondary batteryor to identify the power supply voltage. In the prior art, there is noconcept of using information stored in the memory within the batterypack to start a diagnosis function of the electronic apparatus.

Therefore, the conventional electronic apparatuses have the followingproblems.

The conventional portable electronic apparatuses, such as the lap-toppersonal computers, are normally not provided with an extension slotsuch as that of the desk-top personal computers. For this reason, in acase where it is impossible to investigate the location of the failurewithin the lap-top personal computer unless a indicator for debugginguse is connected to the lap-top personal computer, it becomes necessaryto open the housing (or casing) of the lap-top personal computer andmake the necessary connections. As a result, the troublesome operations,such as removing the screws, are required in order to carry out thediagnosis. Moreover, in the case of the lap-top personal computer havingthe housing which is uneasily opened, the operations that are requiredto carry out the diagnosis become even more complex and troublesome, andfurthermore, the housing may be damaged when opening the housing.

Although it is conceivable to provide the extension slot in the lap-toppersonal computers, similarly to the desk-top personal computers, sincethere are demands to reduce the size of the lap-top personal computers,there is a limit to the space within the lap-top personal computer thatmay be used to provide the extension slot. In addition, the cost of thelap-top personal computers will increase if the extension slot having apredetermined number of terminals were to be provided in the lap-toppersonal computers. Therefore, it is not practical to provide theextension slot in the lap-top personal computers. Although the lap-toppersonal computers provided with a simplified extension slot having asmall number of terminals have been proposed, it is still necessary tosecure the space to provide the simplified extension slot, and further,there is a limit to the diagnosis performance that may be achieved ifthe number of terminals of the simplified extension slot is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providea novel and useful diagnosis method, power supply control device,electronic apparatus, battery pack and computer-readable storage medium,in which the problems described above are suppressed.

Another and more specific object of the present invention is to providea diagnosis method, a power supply control device, an electronicapparatus, a battery pack and a computer-readable storage medium, whichenable diagnosis of an electronic apparatus without having to provide anextension slot.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a diagnosismethod for diagnosing an electronic apparatus that is operable with abattery pack having a memory which stores information, comprising thesteps of (a) reading information from the battery pack; and (b) Settingthe electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when the read informationindicates the diagnosis mode. According to the diagnosis method of thepresent invention, it is possible to diagnose the electronic apparatuswithout having to provide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a power supplycontrol device for controlling a power supply of an electronic apparatusthat is operable with a battery pack having a memory which storesinformation, comprising a reading part configured to read informationfrom the battery pack; and an issuing part configured to issue aninstruction that sets the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode whenthe read information indicates the diagnosis mode. According to thepower supply control device of the present invention, it is possible todiagnose the electronic apparatus without having to provide an extensionslot in the electronic apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronicapparatus operable with a battery pack which stores information,comprising a reading part configured to read information from thebattery pack; and a setting part configured to set the electronicapparatus to a diagnosis mode when the read information indicates thediagnosis mode. According to the electronic apparatus of the presentinvention, it is possible to diagnose the electronic apparatus withouthaving to provide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a batterypack for supplying a power supply voltage to an electronic apparatus,comprising a memory configured to store identification information ofthe battery pack; a battery part configured to supply the power supplyvoltage; one or more first terminals configured to input and outputsignals with respect to the memory; and two or more second terminalsconfigured to input and output the power supply voltage with respect tothe battery part, where the memory stores information for setting theelectronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode in a manner readable via thefirst terminals. According to the battery pack of the present invention,it is possible to diagnose the electronic apparatus without having toprovide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide acomputer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing acomputer to set to a diagnosis mode an electronic apparatus that isoperable with a battery pack having a memory which stores information,the program comprising a reading procedure causing the computer to readinformation from the battery pack; and an issuing procedure causing thecomputer to issue an instruction that sets the electronic apparatus tothe diagnosis mode when the read information indicates the diagnosismode. According to the computer-readable storage medium of the presentinvention, it is possible to diagnose the electronic apparatus withouthaving to provide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a diagnosis methodfor diagnosing an electronic apparatus that is operable with adetachable battery pack, comprising the steps of (a) judging a loadedbattery pack; and (b) setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosismode when the step (a) judges that the loaded battery pack is a specialbattery pack. According to the diagnosis method of the presentinvention, it is possible to diagnose the electronic apparatus withouthaving to provide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a powersupply control device for controlling a power supply of an electronicapparatus that is operable with a detachable battery pack, comprising ajudging part configured to judge a loaded battery pack; and a settingpart configured to set the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode whenthe judging part judges that the loaded battery pack is a specialbattery pack. According to the power supply control device of thepresent invention, it is possible to diagnose the electronic apparatuswithout having to provide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronicapparatus operable with a detachable battery pack, comprising a judgingpart configured to judge a loaded battery pack; and a setting partconfigured to set the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when thejudging part judges that the loaded battery pack is a special batterypack. According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, itis possible to diagnose the electronic apparatus without having toprovide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide acomputer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing acomputer to set to a diagnosis mode an electronic apparatus that isoperable with a detachable battery pack, the program comprising ajudging procedure causing the compute to judge a loaded battery pack;and a setting procedure causing the computer to set the electronicapparatus to a diagnosis mode when the judging procedure judges that theloaded battery pack is a special battery pack. According to thecomputer-readable storage medium of the present invention, it ispossible to diagnose the electronic apparatus without having to providean extension slot in the electronic apparatus.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronicapparatus in a state where a lid is open;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display contents of an auxiliary displaypart of the electronic apparatus on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the electronic apparatus in a statewhere a battery pack is removed;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining loading and removal of the batterypack with respect to the electronic apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the batterypack according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram showing a structure of the electronicapparatus together with the battery pack;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining an operation of a power supplycontrol device;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining displays made on theauxiliary display part when displaying a diagnosis result;

FIG. 9 is a system block diagram showing another embodiment of thebattery pack according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining an operation of the power supplycontrol device; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining another operation of the powersupply control device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be given of embodiments of a diagnosis method, apower supply control device, an electronic apparatus, a battery pack anda computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention,by referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the electronicapparatus in a state where a lid is open. In this embodiment, thepresent invention is applied to a lap-top personal computer.

The electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 1, and alid 2 that can open and close with respect to the main body 1. The mainbody 1 is provided with a keyboard 3, a pointing device 4, and anauxiliary display part 5 made of an LCD or the like. The auxiliarydisplay part 5 displays information related to states of the electronicapparatus, that is, status information, and the like. Because theauxiliary display part 5 displays the status information, it issometimes also referred to as a status LCD. A main display part 6 madeof an LCD or the like is provided on the inner side of the lid 2 so thatthe main display part 6 is visible when the lid 2 is opened as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display contents of the auxiliary displaypart 5 of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.In this embodiment, the display contents of the auxiliary display part 5in a normal operation mode, other than a diagnosis mode, include batterylevel displays 11 and 12 which indicate a remaining amount of one ormore battery parts. The auxiliary display part 5 is also provided withparts which may substitute for LEDs or the like which turn ON whenmaking a capital letter input (Caps Lock), a numerical input (Num Lock),a scroll input (Scroll Lock) and the like. These parts of the auxiliarydisplay part 5 may be provided separately in the keyboard 3 or itsperiphery, instead of being included in the auxiliary display part 5.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1in a state where a battery pack is removed, and FIG. 4 is a diagram forexplaining loading and removal of the battery pack with respect to theelectronic apparatus. In the state shown in FIG. 3, a recess 22 foraccommodating a battery pack 31 is provided in a bottom surface 21.Terminals 23 which connect to terminals 33 of the battery pack 31 areprovided within the recess 22. The battery pack 31 that is loaded intothe recess 22 may be removed from the electronic apparatus as shown inFIG. 4 by manipulating claws 32. On the other hand, by loading thebattery pack 31 into the recess 22 as shown in FIG. 4, the claws 32engage corresponding locking parts of the electronic apparatus, to holdthe battery pack 31 within the recess 22. In the state where the batterypack 31 is held within the recess 22, the terminals 33 of the batterypack 31 connect to the corresponding terminals 23 within the recess 22.In addition, one surface of the battery pack 31 forms a portion of thebottom surface 21 of the electronic apparatus. Of course, a lid may beprovided separately to close the recess 22 instead of closing the recess22 by the face of the battery pack 31.

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the batterypack according to the present invention. The battery pack 31 shown inFIG. 5 includes a battery cell part 34, a memory 35, a controller 36 anda connector part 37. The battery cell part 34 has a known structure madeup of a plurality of chargeable battery cells for supplying a powersupply voltage VBATT. For example, the battery cell part 34 may be madeup of a plurality of battery cell groups that are connected in parallel,where each battery cell group is made up of a plurality of battery cellsthat are connected in series. The memory 35 stores data (information)related to the battery pack 31. The data (information) related to thebattery pack 31 includes identification (ID) information for identifyingthe type and/or the supplying voltage of the battery pack 31,information related to a tolerable temperature within the battery pack31, log information related to the use of the battery pack 31 such asthe number of times the battery pack 31 is used. Depending on thespecifications of the battery pack 31, a RAM, a ROM and/or other typesof storage devices may be used for the memory 35, and any type orstructure may be used for the memory 35 as long as it is possible torealize the present invention. The controller 36 includes elements (notshown) for detecting the temperature of the battery cell part 35 or thetemperature within the battery pack 31, a circuit (not shown) forpreventing overdischarge and overcharging of the battery cell part 35,and the like. But since a known structure may be employed for thecontroller 36, a detailed description of the controller 35 will beomitted in this specification. The connector part 37 includes theterminals 33 that are connectable to the corresponding terminals 23 ofthe electronic apparatus. The element that detects the temperature mayof course be provided externally to the controller 36.

In this embodiment, the connector part 37 of the battery pack 31includes, as the terminals 33, 10 terminals T01 through T10 havingterminals numbers T01 through T10. The terminals T01 and T10 are used tosupply the power supply voltage VBATT from the battery cell part 34 tothe electronic apparatus, and the terminal T10 is used as a ground(GND1). When measuring the power supply voltage VBATT in order to carryout a process such as a management process to manage the charge stateand/or the discharge state of the battery pack 31 within the electronicapparatus, a relatively large current flows through the terminal T01,and for this reason, the measured voltage may become unstable if thevoltage from the terminal T10 is measured directly. Hence, in thisembodiment, a voltage VLT for the measurement, obtained from theterminal T02 through which a relatively small current flows, is suppliedto the electronic apparatus. A control signal CNT from the electronicapparatus, which puts the terminal T01 in a connected state and enablesthe supply of the power supply voltage VBATT when the battery pack 31 isloaded into the electronic apparatus, is supplied to the terminal T03.In the state where the battery pack 31 is not loaded into the electronicapparatus, no control signal CNT is supplied to the terminal T03 and theterminal T01 is put into a non-connected state, to thereby prevent thepower supply voltage from being accidentally obtained from the terminalsT01 and T10. A switch (not shown) that switches the terminal T01 betweenthe connected state and the non-connected state based on the controlsignal CNT may be provided within the connector part 37 or within thecontroller part 36.

A temperature detection signal TEMP from the terminal which detects thetemperature within the battery pack 31 is output from the terminal T04and supplied to the electronic apparatus. In this embodiment, theterminals T05 and T06 are reserve terminals. A clock signal CLK that isused when carrying out a read or a write with respect to the memory 35is supplied to the terminal T07 from the electronic apparatus. At thetime of the read, data (information) DT read from the memory 35 withinthe battery pack 31 is output from the terminal T08 and supplied to theelectronic apparatus. On the other hand, at the time of the write, data(information) DT to be written into the memory 35 within the batterypack 31 is supplied to the terminal T08 from the electronic apparatus.The terminal T09 is used as a ground (GNDA) for analog signals. Thesignals VLT and TEMP output from the terminals T02 and T04 are analogsignals, and for this reason, if the terminal T10 through which therelatively large current flows is used as the ground for these analogsignals VLT and TEMP, the analog signals VLT and TEMP may becomeunstable due to the effects of the large current. Accordingly, in thisembodiment, the terminal T09 is provided separately as the ground (GNDA)for the analog signals VLT and TEMP output from the terminals T02 andT04. Of course, the terminals T03 and T09 are not essential. In thisembodiment, the battery pack 31 only needs to be provided with at leastthe terminals T01, T07, T08 and T10.

In this embodiment, the reading and writing of the data DT with respectto the memory 35 are carried out via the controller 36, however, it isnot essential to carry out the reading and the writing via thecontroller 36. In addition, although the temperature detection signalTEMP is output via the controller 36 in this embodiment, a temperaturedetection signal may be output to the terminal T04 directly from theelement which detects the temperature.

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram showing a structure of the electronicapparatus together with the battery pack. In FIG. 6, those parts whichare the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 5 are designated bythe same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.FIG. 6 shows a state where the connector part 37 of the battery pack 31is connected to a connector part 40 of the electronic apparatus. Theconnector part 40 has the terminals 23 shown in FIG. 3, and forms an SMbus together with the terminals 33 of the connector part 37.

The electronic apparatus includes the auxiliary display part 5, theconnector part 40, a microcontroller 41, a boot ROM 42, an LPC bus 43, aCPU 51, a memory 52, a graphic controller 53, a memory controller 54, aninput/output (I/O) controller 55, a PCI bus 56, a PCI device 57 and themain display part 6 which are connected as shown in FIG. 6.

The microcontroller 41 forms an embodiment of the power supply controldevice according to the present invention, and controls the power supplywith respect to the electronic apparatus. The boot ROM 42 storesprograms such as the BIOS that is embedded with the POST. Themicrocontroller 41 and the boot ROM 42 are connected to the LPC bus 43.Although the illustration is omitted in FIG. 6, in a state where theelectronic apparatus connected to a commercial power supply, the powersupply voltage VBATT is also supplied to the microcontroller 41 from atransformer which transforms an A.C. power supply voltage from thecommercial power supply into a D.C. power supply voltage. Thetransformer may be provided within the electronic apparatus or, a D.C.power supply voltage may be supplied to the electronic apparatus from anA.C. adaptor which is connected to the commercial power supply. Theauxiliary display part 5 displays the data supplied thereto under thecontrol of the microcontroller 41 or the CPU 51.

The CPU 51 controls the entire electronic apparatus. The memory 52stores programs to be executed by the CPU 51, and various data includingoperation data and the like such as intermediate data of operationsexecuted by the CPU 51. The memory controller 54 controls the write andread with respect to the memory 52 under the control of the CPU 51. Thegraphic controller 53 converts the data that is to be displayed intodata having a format displayable on the main display part 6. The I/Ocontroller 55 is connected to the PCI bus 56 and the LPC bus 43, andcontrols the input and the output with respect to the CPU 51.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining an operation of the power supplycontrol device, that is, the microcontroller 41, and corresponds to anembodiment of the diagnosis method according to the present invention.An embodiment of a computer-readable storage medium according to thepresent invention stores a program which causes a computer such as aprocessor to carry out the operations of the microcontroller 41 shown inFIG. 7.

In FIG. 7, a step S1 decides, by a known method, whether or not thebattery pack 31 is loaded into the electronic apparatus. When thebattery pack 31 is loaded into the electronic apparatus, the terminals33 of the battery pack 31 connect to the corresponding terminals 23 ofthe electronic apparatus. Hence, by detecting the voltage VBATT from theterminal T01 or the voltage VLT from the terminal T02 shown in FIG. 5,it is possible to judge whether or not the battery pack 31 is loadedinto the electronic apparatus. If the decision result in the step S1 isYES, a step S2 reads, by a known method, the information stored in thememory 35 within the battery pack 31. In this embodiment, the IDinformation of the battery pack 31 is read from the memory 35. A step S3collates the read ID information with ID information that is registeredin advance within the electronic apparatus, and a step S4 decideswhether or not the read ID information matches a special ID informationthat is registered in advance and indicates a diagnosis mode. The IDinformation that is registered in advance within the electronicapparatus includes the ID information of the battery packs from whichthe electronic apparatus will accept the power supply, and the specialID information that is used to set an operation mode of the electronicapparatus to the diagnosis mode. Such ID information may be storedwithin the microcontroller 41 or, stored in a memory within theelectronic apparatus, such as the boot ROM 42 and the memory 52. Thespecial ID information is set to a value that is different from that ofthe ID information of the normal battery pack by with which theelectronic apparatus may be operated.

If the decision result in the step S4 is NO, the battery pack that isloaded into the electronic apparatus is not for the diagnosis use and isthe normal battery pack that does not store the special ID information,and thus, the process advances to a step S6 which will be describedlater. On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S4 is YES,the battery pack 31 that is loaded into the electronic apparatus is forthe diagnosis use and stores the special ID information, and hence, theprocess advances to a step S5. The step S5 issues an instruction thatsets the operation mode of the electronic apparatus to the diagnosismode, and starts the diagnosis function such as the POST of the BIOSstored in the boot ROM 42. Accordingly, the diagnosis function diagnosesthe electronic apparatus by setting the electronic apparatus to thediagnosis mode, and displays a diagnosis result including debuginformation on the main display part 6, the auxiliary display part 5 orthe indicator provided in the keyboard 3 and/or its peripheral part. Itis desirable to store the diagnosis result in the memory within theelectronic apparatus, such as the memory 52, as log information or thelike, together with information related to the state of the electronicapparatus at a point in time when a failure or the like is generated.After the step S5, the process advances to a step S7 which will bedescribed later.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining displays made on theauxiliary display part 5 when displaying the diagnosis result. FIG. 8Ashows the battery level displays 11 and 12 that are made on theauxiliary display part 5 in the normal operation mode, and FIG. 8B showsthe diagnosis result, that is, debug information 111, displayed on theauxiliary display part 5 in the diagnosis mode.

In the case where the battery pack 31 is made up of a single batterypart as in the case of this embodiment, each display segment of thebattery level displays 11 and 12 shown in FIG. 8A corresponds to 12.5%of a maximum battery level. Hence, in the case shown in FIG. 8A, thebattery level displays 11 and 12 indicate that the remaining batterylevel of the battery pack 31 is 75%. Of course, only one of the batterylevel displays 11 and 12 may be made active, so that each displaysegment of the active battery level display 11 or 12 corresponds to 35%of the maximum battery level.

In a case where the battery pack 31 is made up of mutually independentfirst and second battery parts, each display segment of the batterylevel displays 11 and 12 corresponds to 35% of the maximum batterylevel. In the case shown in FIG. 8A, the battery level display 11indicates that the remaining battery level is 50% for the first batterypart, and the battery level display 12 indicates that the remainingbattery level is 100% for the second battery part. In this case, atleast 2 terminals must be provided in addition to the terminals 33 shownin FIG. 5 in order to supply the power supply voltage from the secondbattery part to the electronic apparatus.

On the other hand, in FIG. 8B, the debug information 111 is indicated by1 byte, and each display segment corresponds to 1 bit. In the case shownin FIG. 8B, the debug information 111 indicates a diagnosis result code“110011110”, that is, “9Eh” in hexadecimal. Accordingly, by using theauxiliary display part 4 that displays the status information in thenormal operation mode, it is possible to display the diagnosis result,that is, the debug information 111 in the diagnosis mode. In addition,the diagnosis result may be displayed on the auxiliary display part 5 inthe form of a diagnosis result code and/or a diagnosis result message.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the diagnosis whichincludes investigating the location of the failure within the electronicapparatus is carried out when shipping the personal computer, andattending to the maintenance, checking or repair of the personalcomputer, it is unnecessary to use an extension card and it isunnecessary to provide an extension slot in the electronic apparatus. Inaddition, the diagnosis function of the electronic apparatus can bestarted by a simple operation of replacing the normal battery pack thatis loaded into the electronic apparatus with the battery pack 31 for thediagnosis use. The normal battery pack and the battery pack 31 for thediagnosis use may have the same structure and only the ID informationstored in the memory 35 needs to be different between the two batterypacks. Consequently, it is unnecessary to design and produce a batterypack exclusively for the diagnosis use. In addition, an existing basicstructure of the electronic apparatus may be used, and the diagnosisfunction can be started based on the special ID information read fromthe battery pack 31 for the diagnosis use, by simply modifying theoperation of the microcontroller 41 which functions as the power supplycontrol device. When replacing the normal battery pack with the batterypack 31 for the diagnosis use, the information related to the state ofthe electronic apparatus at the time when the failure or the like isgenerated can positively be stored by continuing the supply of the powersupply voltage to the electronic apparatus using the A.C. adaptor or thelike, thereby making it possible to carry out an accurate diagnosis.Moreover, because the diagnosis function will not be started unless thebattery pack 31 for the diagnosis use is loaded into the electronicapparatus, it is also possible to prevent the user of the electronicapparatus from accidentally starting the diagnosis function.

In possible, the diagnosis result may be displayed in the form of thediagnosis result code and/or the diagnosis result message on the maindisplay part 6. In addition, the diagnosis result may be displayed inthe form of the diagnosis result code on the indicator that is providedin the keyboard 3 and/or the periphery thereof. Furthermore, ifpossible, the diagnosis result can be displayed in the form of thediagnosis result code and/or the diagnosis result message using anarbitrary combination of two or more of the auxiliary display part 5,the main display part 6 and the indicator provided in the keyboard 3and/or the periphery thereof.

Returning now to the description of FIG. 7, the step S6 stores the IDinformation and other information read from the memory 35 into thememory 52 or the like. Each information read from the memory 35 may bedistinguished from other information by segmenting the information inunits of bytes, for example. A step S7 carries out a management processto manage the charge state and the discharge state of the battery pack31. A step S8 decides whether or not the battery pack 31 is loaded intothe electronic apparatus, and the process returns to the step S7 if thedecision result in the step S8 is YES. On the other hand, if thedecision result in the step S8 is NO, a step S9 stops the diagnosisfunction if started, and the process returns to the step S1.

Next, a description will be given of another embodiment of the powersupply control device, the electronic apparatus, the battery pack andthe computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention,by referring to FIGS. 9 through 11. FIG. 9 is a system block diagramshowing this other embodiment of the battery pack according to thepresent invention, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are flow charts for explaining anoperation of the power supply control device, that is, themicrocontroller 41. This other embodiment of the electronic apparatushas the same basic structure as that of the embodiment described above,and illustration and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 9,those parts which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 5are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereofwill be omitted.

In FIG. 9, a battery pack 31A is further provided with terminals 333.The terminals 333 may be connected to the terminals T07 and T08 of theconnector part 37 via the controller 36 as shown in FIG. 9 or, may beconnected directly to the terminals T07 and T08 of the connector part37. The terminals 333 may include terminals for signals other than theclock signal CLK and the data DT.

This other embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium stores aprogram for causing a computer such as a processor to carry out theoperation of the microcontroller 41 shown in FIG. 10 and/or FIG. 11.

In FIG. 10, a step S11 decides, by a known method, whether or not thebattery pack 31A is loaded into the electronic apparatus. When thebattery pack 31A is loaded into the electronic apparatus, the terminals33 of the battery pack 31A connect to the corresponding terminals 23 ofthe electronic apparatus. Hence, by detecting the voltage VBATT from theterminal T01 or the voltage VLT from the terminal T02 shown in FIG. 9,it is possible to judge whether or not the battery pack 31A is loadedinto the electronic apparatus. If the decision result in the step S1 isYES, a step S12 reads, by a known method, the information stored in thememory 35 within the battery pack 31A. In this embodiment, the IDinformation of the battery pack 31A is read from the memory 35. A stepS13 collates the read ID information with ID information that isregistered in advance within the electronic apparatus, and a step S14decides whether or not the read ID information matches a special IDinformation that is registered in advance and indicates an initialsetting mode. The ID information that is registered in advance withinthe electronic apparatus includes the ID information of the batterypacks from which the electronic apparatus will accept the power supply,and the special ID information that is used to set an operation mode ofthe electronic apparatus to the initial setting mode. Such IDinformation may be stored within the microcontroller 41 or, stored in amemory within the electronic apparatus, such as the boot ROM 42 and thememory 52. The special ID information is set to a value that isdifferent from that of the ID information of the normal battery pack bywith which the electronic apparatus may be operated, and is alsodifferent from that of the special ID information indicating thediagnosis mode.

If the decision result in the step S14 is NO, the battery pack that isloaded into the electronic apparatus is not for the initial setting useand is the normal battery pack that does not store the special IDinformation, and thus, the process advances to a step S16 which will bedescribed later. On the other hand, if the decision result in the stepS14 is YES, the battery pack 31A that is loaded into the electronicapparatus is for the initial setting use and stores the special IDinformation, and hence, the process advances to a step S15. The step S15issues an instruction that sets the operation mode of the electronicapparatus to the initial setting mode, and starts an initial settingfunction such as the BIOS stored in the boot ROM 42. Accordingly, theinitial setting function sets the electronic apparatus to the initialsetting mode, and by inputting external information obtained via theterminals 333 of the battery pack 31A, the initial setting functioncarries out the initial setting of the electronic apparatus based on theexternal information. After the step S15, the process advances to a stepS17 which will be described later.

The step S16 stores the ID information and other information read fromthe memory 35 into the memory 52 or the like. Each information read fromthe memory 35 may be distinguished from other information by segmentingthe information in units of bytes, for example. A step S17 carries out amanagement process to manage the charge state and the discharge state ofthe battery pack 31A. A step S18 decides whether or not the battery pack31A is loaded into the electronic apparatus, and the process returns tothe step S17 if the decision result in the step S18 is YES. On the otherhand, if the decision result in the step S18 is NO, a step S19 stops theinitial setting function if started, and the process returns to the stepS11.

In FIG. 11, a step S31 decides whether or not the external informationinput to the electronic apparatus via the terminals 333 of the batteryunit 31A is an information access request. If the decision result in thestep S31 is YES, a step S32 decides whether or not the informationaccess request includes a request for information related to the stateof the electronic apparatus at the time when the failure or the like isgenerated. The process advances to a step S33 if the decision result inthe step S32 is YES, and the process advances to a step S34 if thedecision result in the step S32 is NO. The step S33 reads theinformation related to the state of the electronic apparatus at the timewhen the failure or the like is generated, from the memory of theelectronic apparatus such as the memory 32, and outputs the readinformation to the battery pack 31A to be output via the terminals 333of the battery pack 31A. The step S34 decides whether or not theinformation access request includes a request for the diagnosis result.The process advances to a step S35 if the decision result in the stepS34 is YES, and the process returns to the step S31 if the decisionresult in the step S34 is NO. The step S35 reads the diagnosis requestif the diagnosis result is stored in the memory of the electronicapparatus such as the memory 32, and outputs the read diagnosis resultto the battery pack 31A to be output via the terminals 333 of thebattery pack 31A, and the process returns to the step S31. Accordingly,the information related to the state of the electronic apparatus at thetime when the failure or the like is generated and the diagnosis resultmay be output to an external device in response to the informationaccess request, without having to provide exclusive terminals in theelectronic apparatus, to thereby facilitate the diagnosis and repair ofthe electronic apparatus.

Of course, the electronic apparatus may carry out an arbitrarycombination of two or more operations of the operations shown in FIGS.7, 10 and 11.

In each of the embodiments described above, the battery pack is notprovided with terminals for an address signals. However, in a case wherea plurality of ID information and the like are stored in the memorywithin the battery pack and it is desirable to enable access to eachindividual information, terminals for the address signal may be providedon the battery pack, although the number of terminals will increase inthis case.

The application of the present invention is not limited to the lap-toppersonal computer, and is applicable to any type of electronic apparatuswhich uses a battery pack and requires diagnosis. The electronicapparatus to which the present invention is applied does not necessarilyhave to be a portable apparatus.

Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, butvarious variations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

1. A diagnosis method for diagnosing an electronic apparatus that isoperable with a battery pack having a memory which stores information,comprising the steps of: (a) reading information from the battery pack;and (b) setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when theread information indicates the diagnosis mode.
 2. The diagnosis methodas claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (c) displaying adiagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosismode on a display part and/or an indicator of the electronic apparatus.3. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising thesteps of: (d) outputting a diagnosis result obtained by the electronicapparatus in the diagnosis mode to an outside of the electronicapparatus via the battery pack.
 4. A power supply control device forcontrolling a power supply of an electronic apparatus that is operablewith a battery pack having a memory which stores information,comprising: a reading part configured to read information from thebattery pack; and an issuing part configured to issue an instructionthat sets the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when the readinformation indicates the diagnosis mode.
 5. The power supply controldevice as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a displaying partconfigured to display a diagnosis result obtained by the electronicapparatus in the diagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator ofthe electronic apparatus.
 6. The power supply control device as claimedin claim 4, further comprising: an output part configured to output adiagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosismode to an outside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack. 7.The power supply control device as claimed in claim 4, furthercomprising: an input part configured to input information to theelectronic apparatus via the battery pack.
 8. An electronic apparatusoperable with a battery pack which stores information, comprising: areading part configured to read information from the battery pack; and asetting part configured to set the electronic apparatus to a diagnosismode when the read information indicates the diagnosis mode.
 9. Theelectronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: adiagnosing part configured to diagnose the electronic apparatus in thediagnosis mode; and a displaying part configured to display a diagnosisresult obtained by the diagnosing part.
 10. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the displaying part includes at least oneelement selected from a group consisting of a main display part, anauxiliary display part and an indicator.
 11. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, further comprising: an output part configured tooutput the diagnosis result obtained by the diagnosing part to anoutside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.
 12. Theelectronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: an inputpart configured to input information to the electronic apparatus via thebattery pack.
 13. A battery pack for supplying a power supply voltage toan electronic apparatus, comprising: a memory configured to storeidentification information of the battery pack; a battery partconfigured to supply the power supply voltage; one or more firstterminals configured to input and output signals with respect to thememory; and two or more second terminals configured to input and outputthe power supply voltage with respect to the battery part, said memorystoring information for setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosismode in a manner readable via the first terminals.
 14. The battery packas claimed in claim 13, further comprising: one or more third terminalsconfigured to output a diagnosis result from the electronic apparatusthat is set to the diagnosis mode to an outside of the battery pack. 15.A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing acomputer to set to a diagnosis mode an electronic apparatus that isoperable with a battery pack having a memory which stores information,said program comprising: a reading procedure causing the computer toread information from the battery pack; and an issuing procedure causingthe computer to issue an instruction that sets the electronic apparatusto the diagnosis mode when the read information indicates the diagnosismode.
 16. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 15,said program further comprising: a display procedure causing thecomputer to display a diagnosis result obtained by the electronicapparatus in the diagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator ofthe electronic apparatus.
 17. The computer-readable storage medium asclaimed in claim 15, said program further comprising: an outputprocedure causing the computer to output a diagnosis result obtained bythe electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode to an outside of theelectronic apparatus via the battery pack.
 18. A diagnosis method fordiagnosing an electronic apparatus that is operable with a detachablebattery pack, comprising the steps of: (a) judging a loaded batterypack; and (b) setting the electronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode whensaid step (a) judges that the loaded battery pack is a special batterypack.
 19. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 18, furthercomprising the steps of: (c) displaying a diagnosis result obtained bythe electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode on a display part and/oran indicator of the electronic apparatus.
 20. The diagnosis method asclaimed in claim 18, further comprising the steps of: (d) outputting adiagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosismode to an outside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack. 21.A power supply control device for controlling a power supply of anelectronic apparatus that is operable with a detachable battery pack,comprising: a judging part configured to judge a loaded battery pack;and a setting part configured to set the electronic apparatus to adiagnosis mode when said judging part judges that the loaded batterypack is a special battery pack.
 22. The power supply control device asclaimed in claim 21, further comprising: a displaying part configured todisplay a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in thediagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator of the electronicapparatus.
 22. The power supply control device as claimed in claim 21,further comprising: an output part configured to output a diagnosisresult obtained by the electronic apparatus in the diagnosis mode to anoutside of the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.
 23. The powersupply control device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: aninput part configured to input information to the electronic apparatusvia the battery pack.
 24. An electronic apparatus operable with adetachable battery pack, comprising: a judging part configured to judgea loaded battery pack; and a setting part configured to set theelectronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when said judging part judgesthat the loaded battery pack is a special battery pack.
 25. Theelectronic apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further comprising: adiagnosing part configured to diagnose the electronic apparatus in thediagnosis mode; and a displaying part configured to display a diagnosisresult obtained by the diagnosing part.
 26. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 25, wherein said displaying part includes at least oneelement selected from a group consisting of a main display part, anauxiliary display part and an indicator.
 27. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 25, further comprising: an output part configured tooutput the diagnosis result obtained by the diagnosis part to an outsideof the electronic apparatus via the battery pack.
 28. The electronicapparatus as claimed in claim 24, further comprising: an input partconfigured to input information to the electronic apparatus via thebattery pack.
 29. A computer-readable storage medium which stores aprogram for causing a computer to set to a diagnosis mode an electronicapparatus that is operable with a detachable battery pack, said programcomprising: a judging procedure causing the compute to judge a loadedbattery pack; and a setting procedure causing the computer to set theelectronic apparatus to a diagnosis mode when said judging procedurejudges that the loaded battery pack is a special battery pack.
 30. Thecomputer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 29, said programfurther comprising: a displaying procedure causing the computer todisplay a diagnosis result obtained by the electronic apparatus in thediagnosis mode on a display part and/or an indicator of the electronicapparatus.
 31. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim29, said program further comprising: an output procedure causing thecomputer to output a diagnosis result obtained by the electronicapparatus in the diagnosis mode to an outside of the electronicapparatus via the battery pack.